by Vince Wetzel
Sports Writer
In a come from behind victory, the University of La Verne baseball team defeated the Cal Lutheran College Kingsmen, 6-5, yesterday in the opening game of the West Regional playoffs to take a 1-0 lead in the best of five series.
La Verne came into the playoffs following a memorable 1995 regular season, going 21-0 in SCIAC, a feat never done by any team in the conference. The team was able to put it together to win its first SCIAC crown in eight years.
But that was the regular season. Now, the 1995 SCIAC champions must put their regular season success behind them to focus on their second season – the post-season. Their first challenge started yesterday in the Division III West Regionals against conference rival Cal Lutheran, a team they swept at the beginning of their 21-0 conference triumph.
In order to combat errors of playing in such high pressure situations, Head Coach Owen Wright will go with experience and play the team’s juniors and seniors in order for the team to have its most experienced players on the field.
“We are going to play as many experienced players as possible,” said Wright. “For the most part, we have a junior and senior ball club and we have more juniors and seniors than [Cal Lutheran does]. For example, we are going to start Jeff Eckler instead of Ryan Jourdain. Not that Ryan hasn’t helped us, but we are going to go with the people who have played a lot.”
Before yesterday’s game, the team was focused and confident for this best of five series with the Kingsmen. It felt it was better prepared and more confident .than the conference rivals.
“I don’t think there is any way we should lose to them,” said junior pitcher Jeff Doen. “If everything goes as planned and we play our game, it shouldn’t go to a fourth game.”
Wright has tried to prepare his players for this week by breaking everything down and focusing on the fundamentals, something he has not done since the preseason. He hopes this will help take away the rustiness that may have set in during the week and a half without any organized competition.
“We are going to execute the fine points of the game,” said Wright. “We have started to work on bunt coverage and hit and run plays. We are taking a lot of the routine plays and breaking them down to execute game situations. We are practicing as close to game situations as possible.”
Their first test came yesterday as senior J.D. Romero started for La Verne. Today, the Leos play a doubleheader with senior Greg Vargas pitching the first game and Doen pitching the second. If the series goes to Saturday, Whitaker will pitch the first game. It is undecided who will pitch the final game.
In one of the final games the Leos played before the layoff, they were beat by UC San Diego. Although La Verne was defeated by the Tritons, Wright believes that the loss could have been a blessing.
“San Diego got up for that ballgame,” he said.”We had won 15 in a row at that point. That loss may actually help us in the playoffs to help refocus all the guys.” They may need focus to play with this Cal Lutheran team. The Leos have not seen three of the pitchers that the Kingsmen will throw at them. It will be important to concentrate on the fundamentals they have worked hard for. Wright feels that the level of enthusiasm is very high for the team right now.
“I think there is an excitement amongst the players,” said Wright. “A few of the Cal Lu players have been there and they have the experience. But focus and determination and success in the past will help us get to there.”
Senior catcher Erik Larson is confident about this series.
“I think our hitters are too good for their pitching and our pitching won’t allow too many runs,” said Larson. “To prepare, we are practicing hard, staying focused and trying to play the game that we know how to play.”
The winner of the Western Regionals will advance to the College World Series, along with the seven other regional champion teams, in Salem, Va., on Tuesday. If La Verne advances, however, the players will have to work out a scheduling problem back here at the University.
“It is tough to have finals, but the professors are being pretty good with that,” said Doen. “The World Series is where I want to be. I don’t want to be here taking finals. I would rather play baseball. Everybody’s dream is to play in the World Series.”
Wright is sympathetic to the student-athletes. The World Series is what everyone dreams of, yet the primary focus of attending college is to get an education.
“They are guys being pulled two ways,” said Wright. “We hope that most of the professors are understanding and work with the individual players.
“Just being there and participating is an experience that happens once in a lifetime. I have gotten that far in soccer, but not in baseball. Just to get there is the total experience.”
First, though, they must get past this first test against Cal Lutheran. Unlike regular season games at Ben Hines Field, the NCAA will charge admission to this playoff series. The cost is $3 for students and $4 for general admission. The Associated Student Federation has bought a limited number of tickets for the series for students. Students can pick them up at the Student Center desk.
